ENVIRONMENTAL

SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
a) Water Pollution: Introduction – Water Quality Standards, Sources of Water Pollution, Classification
of water pollutants, Effects of water pollutants

b) Air Pollution: Composition of air, Structure of atmosphere, Ambient Air Quality Standards,
Classification of air pollutants, Sources of common air pollutants like PM, SO2, NOX, Auto exhaust,
Effects of common air pollutants

c) Noise Pollution: Introduction, Sound and Noise, Noise measurements, Causes and Effects
d) Solid Waste: Generation and management
e) Bio-medical Waste: Generation and management
f) E-waste: Generation and management

Lecture 8 Dr. Hemanta Medhi

 Sources of Air Pollution
The sources of air pollution can be categories as:

1. Natural sources of Air Pollution

1. Marsh gases due to decay of vegetable matter in marshy places
2. Many gases and ash released by volcanic eruptions
3. Smoke and green house gases released by forest fires
4. Harmful gases. Particulate and chemicals from dust storms,
electric storms etc
5. Presence of bacteria, viruses, fungi and pollen

2. Man made or Anthropogenic sources of Air Pollution

1. Point sources like chimneys of different industries releasing
emissions in air
2. Mobile sources like vehicles, trains, aeroplanes which emits
exhaust into air over long distances. Burning of fossil fuels
and fires
3. Area sources like release of air pollutants from industrial area
of town or city which affects particular area. Rapid
Industrialization
4. Population Explosion
5. Agricultural activity
6. Modern Warfare: Radioactive rays from nuclear reactors
 Common air pollutants – Sources and Effects
1. Particulate Matters
Particulates are basically suspended droplets, solid particles or mixture of two present in
atmosphere

Sources: Volcanic eruptions, dust storms, spraying of salts and paints, fly ash from
combustion of fossil fuels, smoke from vehicles and mining and metallurgical
activities etc

Effects:
(a) Flyash and soot discharged by burning of coal causes respiratory diseases.
(b) Metal dust containing heavy metals and cotton dust may also cause respiratory
diseases.
(c) Smog and dust impart adverse effect on man, animals and may inhibit the growth of
plants.
(d) Vehicular particulates containing lead affects hemoglobin formation.
(e) Aerosols released from aeroplanes may affect ozone layer.
 Common air pollutants – Sources and Effects

2. Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)

Among the six different oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2, N2O, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5), nitric oxide
(NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are very important pollutant.

Source: combustion of fossil fuel, emissions from vehicles and industries, natural photochemical
reactions, decay of organic materials, lightning and forest fires.

Effects:
(a) NO can also combine with hemoglobin and thus reduces the oxygen carrying
capacity of blood.
(b) NO2 can react with moisture in atmosphere to form nitric acid which causes acid rain and
affects vegetables and metals.
(c) NO2 is more toxic then NO and may affect lungs and cause bronchitis.
(d) NO2 absorbs light and thus reduces the visibility.
 Common air pollutants – Sources and Effects
3. Oxides of Sulphur (SOx):

Oxides of sulphur are most widespread and important air pollutants. Among the six different
oxides of sulphur (SO, SO2, SO3, SO4, S2O3, S2O7), sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide are
very important pollutants. SO2 is a colourless, non-flammable and non-explosive gas which may
impart suffocation. SO2 cam photo chemically oxidised to SO3.

Source: burning of fossil fuels, emissions from vehicles and industries, solid waste disposal, etc.

Effects:
(a) Oxides of sulphur also attacks building materials especially marbles and lime stone.
This effect was observed on the Taj Mahal at Agra which became the reason of shutting down
lots of industries neat to Taj Mahal.
(b) SO2 react with moisture in atmosphere to form sulphuric acid which causes acid rain and
affects vegetables and metals.
(c) SO2 may affect mucous membranes of respiratory tracts and cause bronchitis.
(d) Oxides of sulphur may affect cloths, leather, paper and plants.
 Common air pollutants – Sources and Effects
4. Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Carbon dioxide is ideally not considered as an air pollutant if its presence does not exceed the
concentration ideally present in atmosphere. Rapid industrialisation and discharge of high
combustion gases in the atmosphere has increased its concentration, thus making it a pollutant.

Source: combustion of fossil fuel, emissions from jet planes, respiration processes, decay of
organic materials, forest fires, etc.

Effects:
It is the main greenhouse gas responsible for rise in average temperature of atmosphere. It
disturbs atmospheric stability and thus plays an important role in climatic changes in
atmosphere.
 Common air pollutants – Sources and Effects

5. Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is also a pollutant if its concentration exceeds more than 0.1 ppm in
atmosphere. It is colourless, tasteless and odourless gas.

Source: incompletes combustion of fossil fuel, emissions from vehicles, stoves and gas heaters,
decay of organic materials, forest fires, etc.

Effects:
(a) CO has extremely high affinity with hemoglobin (approximately 210 times its
affinity to oxygen) and thus it combines with blood hemoglobin immediately after inhalation to
form carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) which reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.
(b) It affects the nervous system and imparts laziness.
(c) It causes cardiovascular disorders.
(d) It reduces the vision also.
 Common air pollutants – Sources and Effects

6. Hydrocarbons

Some of the main hydrocarbons which may be gaseous and/or volatile air pollutants are
methane, acetylene and ethylene.

Source: incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, emissions from vehicles, refineries and
industries, agricultural burning, forest fires, etc.

Effects:
(a) Unburned hydrocarbons with oxides of nitrogen in the presence of sunlight form
photochemical smog which can have adverse effects on humans and plants.
(b) Some aromatic hydrocarbons may cause cancer.
(c) Hydrocarbons like ethylene may inhibit the growth of plants.
 Common air pollutants – Sources and Effects
7. Photochemical Oxidants

These are the substances which can oxidise the iodine ion of potassium iodide, for example,
ozone (O3), peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN), peroxybenzoyal nitrate (PBN). These are secondary
pollutants and damaging effect of photochemical smog is related to these pollutants.

Source: photochemical reaction among hydrocarbons, exhaust of automobiles and oxides of

nitrogen in the presence of sunlight.

Effects:
(a) Ozone, PAN and PBN oxidants cause eye irritation nose and throat irritation,
coughing and inability to concentrate.
(b) Ozone attacks synthetic rubber, tires and insulation of wires.
(c) These oxidants reduce strength of fibers, and cause fading of fabrics.
(d) Aerosols formed from chemical reactions create smog which reduces visibility.
Vehicular discharges

In urban areas, about 75 percent of the air pollution is caused by automobile emissions.
Automobiles run mainly on petrol or diesel.

They pollute the air not only with exhaust gases but also with tiny bits of lead from tetraethyl
lead that is contained in gasoline so as to prevent engine knock.

A mixture of carbon monoxide (about 77 per cent), oxides of nitrogen (about 8.4 per cent),
hydrocarbons (about 14 per cent) and leaded gas along with some particulate of lead is
emitted due to incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons (petrol and diesel) in internal
combustion engines.

These discharged gases react with oxides of nitrogen in the presence of sunlight to produce
highly toxic photochemical smog.

Respiratory disease, Cancer etc

Effects of Air Pollution
Air pollutants may adversely affect the humans, plants, animals and building materials as
given below

1. Effects of Air Pollution on Human Beings

(a) Most of the hydrocarbons like methane, acetylene and ethylene may cause acute
respiratory diseases and cancer.
(b) Exposure to dust, smog, smoke and soot may induce several respiratory troubles like
asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer.
(c) Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur may cause irritation to throat, eye and nose as well as
diseases like asthma, bronchitis, etc.
(d) Carbon mono oxide and nitrogen oxide may combine with blood hemoglobin
immediately after inhalation to form carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) which reduces the oxygen
carrying capacity of blood. Thus, it leads to nervous and cardiovascular disorder which
ultimately may cause death.
(e) Ozone formed by photochemical reactions in the troposphere may cause coughing and
eye irritation.
(f) Excess amount of heavy metals may cause poisoning effects on nervous system, damage
of kidney and vision problems.
Effects of Air Pollution

2. Effects of Air Pollution on plants and vegetations

Use of pesticides and excess chemical fertilisers have exposed plants and vegetables with air
pollutants which can adversely affect their growth and metabolism
Effects of Air Pollution

3. Effects of Air Pollution on animals

As animals feed on plants, grass and fodder which may be effected by air pollutants
especially by heavy metals, it may cause poisoning and diarrhea in animals. Inhalation of
fluorine compounds may cause fluorosis i.e., decolorisation and excess calcification of
teeth. Lead poisoning causes bronchitis and loss of appetite in pet animals.
Effects of Air Pollution

4. Effects of Air Pollution on materials and buildings

(a) Acid rain caused by SO2 and NO2 have corrosive effects on buildings and materials.
(b) Ozone, SO2 and NO2 decolorise and deteriorate the paints, metals, textiles and marble.
Famous monument Taj mahal is also under danger of this effect.
(c) Hydrogen sulphide decolorises silver and paints.
(d) Ozone oxidises rubber items like tires, insulation wires and other rubber products.
Effects of Air Pollution

5. Effects of Air Pollution on climate

Deforestation, industrialisation and automobiles have increased concentration of CO2

and other green house gases in atmosphere which resulted in the increase in temperature of
earth. This increase in temperature has also caused the melting of polar ice leading to rise in the
sea water level and change in rainfall pattern.